Pad for artificial teeth and method of preparing same



"wma-mmv@ r March 16,1926. 1,577,134

D. G. MaKlNNON PAD FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH AND METHOD OF PREPARING SAMEFiled Feb. 2, 1925 zznz GI MCAT/inno.

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awww Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

Unirse srarss y lllfi PATENT QFFCE.

DANIEL Gr. MAGKNNON, OF NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLENA.

PAI) FOR ARTFECIAL TEETH AND METHOD OF EREPAFNG SAME.

Application filed February 2, 19525. Serial No. 6,370.

by the Idiscomfort ordinarily incident to the use of artiicial teeth maybe materially reduced, and, in many instances, eliminated.

Many persons find great diliiculty in keeping the lower plate inposition, and a very general complaint is that the plate causes almostconstant annoyance and pain.

The difliculty is due very often to the tact that there is a small, butnevertheless perceptible shrinkage of the gum after the plate has beenworn for some time, so that there results considerable play andlooseness of the plate, although when iirst fitted it may have been ofthe proper dimensions.

Then it becomes loose, the plate, since it is comparatively hard, rubsand irritates the gum.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pad or cushion to beinterposed between the lowerrplate and the vgum and adapted to relievethe pressureupon the gum and afford a sufficient suction to hold theplate in place.

A 'further object of the invention is to provide a cushion or pad whichwill be thoroughly asceptic, may be quickly applied to the plate, andwhich will retain its shape until used.

ther objects of the invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- `Figurel is a view of the blank from which the pad is formed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the pad at an intermediate stageand before itis bent to U-shape.

Figure 3 is a perspective ofthe completed pad or cushion, and

F igureet is a sectional view, in perspective, showing a plate invertedand with the pad applied.

Referring to the drawings, the pad is formed from a blank l0 of softabsorbent material, such as cotton. One edge of the blank is cut toprovide a central extension ll so that when the blank is rolled totheform shown in Figure 2, the intermediate portion l2 of the roll will bethicker or of greater diameter than the remainder.

Aft-er the roll (Figure 2) is formed, it is preferably saturated Vwith asolution, which, when dried, suiiiciently stil'ens the pad to retain itsshape. V The solution mayv be of asceptic .character so as to have asoothing or healing effect. lt has been found that one containing boricand benzoic acids, such as listerine, is highly satisfactory.

, This product, under the action of heat, suitably stiffens the pad toretain the U-shape to which it is bent.

` After saturation, the roll is bent to the U-shape shown in Figure 3,and at its middle portion there is formed a lip 13 which will lit overthe inner edge 14 of the plate, The lip may be formed by placing theroll in a mold or other suitable shaping device, and in order that itmay remain after the molding operation, the lip should, preferably, becoated with a stilening agent, such as acacia.

The roll, while still in its U-shape, and it desired, while in the mold,should be subjected to heat suiiicienttodry the acacia and the ascepticsolution. Vlfhen removed from themold after treatment with heat, the lip13 will be comparatively hard and the remainder of the pad, while soft,is suficiently stiff to maintain the form impartedV to it by the mold.Thus, there is no necessity or tying or wrapping means to preventdisintegration of the pad, and yet, under the action of moisture when inuse, the entire pad will become relatively soft., since the stilieningaction of the asceptic solution will be overcome by moisture. The lip 13being relatively hard, due to the coating of acacia, will lit snuglyover the inner edge of the plate and prevent the pad from beingaccidentally dislodged during mastication or talking. Although thestiffyening action of the dry asceptic solution is quickly overcome bythe moisture, the asceptic effect remains for a prolonged period, thusaffording the desired protection and preventing a drying or parchingsensation when the cushion is inserted.

It should be understood that numerous changesmay be made in theembodiment of the invention illustrated and. described withiii) outdepartingr from the invention which is defined by the following claims.

l claim:

l. it pad or cushion to be worn between the gums and lower plate otartificial teeth eomprising,` a roll ot' Cotton bentinto U-shape to litthe contour ot' the plate and formed at its middle portion with a. lipadaped to lit over the inner edge of the plate, Said lip beine, treatedwith a lnirdenimi agent to retain iteA torni.

A pad or cushion to be worn between the gums and lower plate oi" artitieial teeth comprising a roll et' cotton bent into U-shalge to litthe contour of the plate, said pad beinsi` treated with an agent adaptedte retain its shape.

3. A. pad or cushion to be worn between the gums and lower plate otartitieial teeth ceinprieing` a roll et cotton bent into U-shape to litthe contour ot' the plate, said pad being treated with an agent adaptedto retain its shapel but permit softening1 inthe presence et moisture.

-l-. t pad or cushion to be worn between the gums and lower plate otartilieial teeth coinprieinp; a roll et' cotton bent into U Shape to litthe Contour el the plate and termed at its middle portion with a lipadapted to lit over the inner edge ot the plate, :said pad beingtreatedwith ay stitlielr ing agent adapted to be Carried oli by the action otmoisture.

5. A pad or Cushion to be worn between the ruine and lower plate otartificial teeth eoniprising` a roll ot cotton bent into U- shape to litthe contour of the plate, said pad heini;` treated with an antisepticagent adapted to retain its shapebut to permit softening in the presenceet moisture.

it pad or cushion to be worn between the gums and lower plate oiartilieial teeth comprising a roll ot cotton bent into U- Shape to litthe contour oil' the plate and formed at its middle portion with a lipadapted to lit over the inner edge of the plate, said pad being' treatedwith an antiseptic stiltening agent adapted to be carried otll by theaction ot moisture.

7. The method ot" preparing a pad or cushion to be worn between the gumsand lower plate ol arti ticial teeth which consist ol the followingsteps; in Suitable order: (l) forming a roll ot cotton and bending thesame into a U-shape to lit the plate, (2) treating* the roll with anagent adapted to ten the same under the action of heat and which will becarried ofi1 by the action oi moisture, and (3) Subjeetingtheimpregnated roll to the action oi heat while in said U-shape.

8. The method of preparing a pad or cushion to be worn between the gumsand lower plate ot artificial teeth which consists ot the followingsteps in suitable order: (l) forming a roll ot cotton and bending;` thesaine inte a U-shape to tit the plate, treating the roll with an agentadapted to stitt'en the same under the action ot heat and which will becarried olil by the action et moisture` (8) forming' at the middleportion of the roll a lip adapted to lit over the inner edge ot' theplate` (4t) coating the lip with a hardening agent, and subjecting theimpregnated roll to the action oit heat while in said U-shape.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DANIEL G. MAGKINNON.

